Analyzing discrete data - 6.2

This analysis enables you to analyze numerical data. It creates a column analysis in which
indicators, appropriate for numeric data, are assigned to the column by default.

Discrete data can only take particular values of potentially an infinite number of values.
Continuous data is the opposite of discrete data, it is not restricted to defined separate
values, but can occupy any value over a continuous range.

This analysis uses the Bin Frequency indicator that you
must configure further in order to convert continuous data into discrete bins (ranges)
according to your needs.

Prerequisite(s): At least one database connection is set
in the Profiling perspective of the studio. For further information, see Connecting to a database.

Defining the analysis

In the DQ Repository tree view, expand Metadata and browse to the numerical column you want to
analyze.

Note

These characters are all replaced with "_" in the file system and you may end up
creating duplicate items.

Set the analysis metadata and click Finish.

The analysis opens in the analysis editor and the Simple
Statistics and the Bin Frequency
indicators are automatically assigned to the numeric column.

Double-click the Bin Frequency indicator to open
the [Indicator settings] dialog box.

Set the bins minimum and maximum values and the number of bins in the
corresponding fields.

If you set the number of bins is set to 0, no bin is created.
The indicator computes the frequency of each value of the column.

Select the Set ranges manually check box.

The four read-only fields in the lower part of the [Create
Bins] dialog box show you the data that Tableau uses to suggest a bin
size. You can also consider these values if you want to set a bin size
manually.

Continuous numeric data is aggregated into discrete bins. Four ranges are listed
in the table with a suggested bin size. The minimal value is the beginning of the
first bin, and the maximal value is the end of the last bin. The size of each bin is
determined by dividing the difference between the smallest and the largest values by
the number of bins.

You can always modify these values if you want to set a bin size manually. The
value in the number of bins field is updated
automatically with the new range number.

Running the analysis and accessing the detail analysis results

Run the analysis.

The editor switches to the Analysis Results
view.

The analysis creates age ranges with limited and discrete set of possible values
out of an unlimited, continuous range of age values.

Right-click any data row in the result tables or in the charts, the first age
range in this example, and select View rows to
access a view of the analyzed data.

The SQL Editor opens listing all customers whose age is between 28 and 39.